Micro, your comments about Maxiell coming out lazy in the first half: To me, you make a common mistake of associating lack of comfort level with lack of effort. A young guy like Maxiell lacks the road map about just where he is suppose to go, what he is suppose to do, from moment to moment. You can't go fast when you don't even know where to go. Given time out there, and a bit of comfort level about his role, Jason Maxiell usually ends up doing pretty darn good.

lee, I can only report what my lying eyes see. I'm hoping to get another chance at watching the game, Maxiell and Webber specifically this afternoon.

I'll credit Max with playing very strong in the second half, but his first half to my recollection was low energy and forgettable.

Because he improved his performance, I'd give Max a plus overall. But given the competition for minutes in our front court, he has to come out and impact the game immediately with physicality and force. Let's face it, the kid is far from a finesse player. His assets are power and force of will.

EDIT: Also, I am tired of seeing him miss dunks. He has to finish. It is unacceptable to blow dunks.

Because of some snafu or another, the final edition game story from the Pistons win over the Bucks didn't make it on to our web site. Since I figure some of you might want to know what was said about the technical fouls and Antonio McDyess' ejection, I thought I might put the game story here. It should be up on the site later today, but, in case you are a morning browser...here you go...

By Chris McCosky The Detroit News

AUBURN HILLS So much for the Pistons vow to leave the officials alone.

They picked up three technical fouls in the third quarter Friday, but instead of hurting the Pistons, the calls seemed to inspire them. Unfortunately, thats probably true, said Chauncey Billups, whose 20 points helped the Pistons stave off the struggling Milwaukee Bucks, 96-86. We got more motivated and played with more passion after we kind of hit a rock and had some adverse situations.

The technical madness began, as it usually does, with Rasheed Wallace. Frustrated after missing seven straight shots and feeling like he was fouled on several of them, Wallace picked up his 14th tech of the season arguing with referee Gary Zielinski.

Its a joke, Wallace said afterward, leaving it at that.

A few minutes later, Wallace asked coach Flip Saunders to take him out of the game. He had become incensed at something Zielinski said to him and he knew if he stayed in the game, he would have picked up his second technical and been ejected.

Hes learning, Saunders said.

Wallace, who finished with 14 points and 7 rebounds, is now two technicals away from a one game suspension.

With 3:34 left in the quarter, Antonio McDyess got into it with referee Derek Richardson. McDyess was called for an offensive foul for pushing on Andrew Bogut. McDyess felt Bogut flopped. Television replays confirmed that he did.

McDyess pleaded his case and got two technical fouls from Richardson and was ejected.

That was one of the worst, Billups said, of Richardsons quick whistle on McDyess. One of the worst.

At that point, Wallace, still fuming, jumped up off the bench to replace McDyess, but Saunders sent him back to the bench.

Emotions were flying high at that point, Saunders said. Sheed is going to be emotional and you never want to leave that type of situation up to the officials. We couldnt afford to have him thrown out of the game.

In keeping Wallace on the bench, Saunders chose to leave Nazr Mohammed and Jason Maxiell in the game. That proved to be the right move.

After the ejection, the Bucks took a 60-59 lead. It was their last lead of the game.

Depending on the situation, technical fouls can be good or bad, said Tayshaun Prince, who posted his fourth double-double of the season, 14 points and a career high 12 rebounds. The fourth quarter is a bad time to get technical fouls. But if its early enough and it means something, and we were playing down for most of the first half, a tech can help a team. This is one of the few times this year it helped us.

The Pistons outscored the Bucks 13-2 the rest of the quarter. Mohammed, getting his first extended work since Webber arrived, blocked two shots and made two superb full-court passes. Recall earlier in the season, Mohammed took some grief from his teammates for air-mailing a long pass almost out of the arena.

This time he hit Billups in stride with one, and Prince with another. Each led to points from Maxiell, a dunk and two free throws.

Nazr is a pro, Billups said. Hes been out of the rotation, but he come early to practice and he stays late. After games that he doesnt play in he stays in the arena and works out. Hes a pro and he got his number called tonight and he was ready.

Prince and Maxiell combining to score 13 straight points at the end of the third and into the fourth to help the Pistons gain a nine point lead. But the Bucks, playing without leading scorer Michael Redd and coming off a 2-13 January, fought back. Led by six points from Ruben Patterson (16 points) and three inexplicable Pistons turnovers, the Bucks got within two again, 84-82 with less than three minutes left.

It took a three-point play by Billups and a three-pointer by Wallace to put the Bucks down for good.

We made some hustle plays, we got up 10 and eventually, what we did was get to the free throw line and won it there, said Saunders, his team outscoring the Bucks 28-12 from the free throw line.

The Pistons are now 6-2 since Chris Webber joined the starting linups. Richard Hamilton added 18. Maxiell added 12, five in the last two minutes.

Emotions were flying high at that point, Saunders said. Sheed is going to be emotional and you never want to leave that type of situation up to the officials. We couldnt afford to have him thrown out of the game.

In keeping Wallace on the bench, Saunders chose to leave Nazr Mohammed and Jason Maxiell in the game. That proved to be the right move. ---------------------What? What happened here?As usual I'm confused...

I agree that Maxiel is dunk happy and a simple put in is often better. I do think that he needs minutes if he is going to help us at all come playoff time. He can be a problem for the better teams who are geared to stop our main players.

lee, I can only report what my lying eyes see. I'm hoping to get another chance at watching the game, Maxiell and Webber specifically this afternoon.

I'll credit Max with playing very strong in the second half, but his first half to my recollection was low energy and forgettable.

Because he improved his performance, I'd give Max a plus overall. But given the competition for minutes in our front court, he has to come out and impact the game immediately with physicality and force. Let's face it, the kid is far from a finesse player. His assets are power and force of will.

EDIT: Also, I am tired of seeing him miss dunks. He has to finish. It is unacceptable to blow dunks.

Click to expand...

Its the old which come first, the chicken or the egg. If Maxiell hardly plays, he will not know his role, will not know what to do, so of course won't be seen giving off any energy. On the other hand, if he gets lots of playing time, he will know what to do, and be able to set off doing it with great energy. Energy with no purpose is just wasted motion. Flip Saunders has two choices. Don't develop the bench, or develop it. For him to look for energy from players who hardly play is a bit on the ridiculous side. Let JMAX play.

He seems to know his role quite well. So well, in fact, that he never hurts the team's performance by trying to do too much, to do things outside the definition of that role - like rebound. Or pay attention on defense. Or play under control.

He seems to know his role quite well. So well, in fact, that he never hurts the team's performance by trying to do too much, to do things outside the definition of that role - like rebound. Or pay attention on defense. Or play under control.

Click to expand...

I will agree that he never hurts us by being out there. But I will strongly disagree he knows his role yet. He will get a lot better yet. As would Amir if we let him play.